Among the potential NFL Hall of Fame inductees are, from left, Jerome Bettis, Warren Sapp and Michael Strahan. Sapp and Strahan are among four players on the ballot for the first time this year. A look at all those on the ballot. (AP Photos)

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Michael Strahan

Michael Strahan spent his entire career with the Giants, setting the single season sacks record with 22.5 in 2001. He won one Super Bowl with the team, and now is making a second career in TV. (Bill Kostroun/AP)

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Warren Sapp

For a defensive tackle, Warren Sapp sure had a knack at getting to opposing quarterbacks. He had 96.5 sacks in his career. (Steve Nesius/AP)

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Jerome Bettis

Jerome Bettis, aka the Bus, left the game on top, helping the Steelers beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit. He rushed for 13,662 yards in his career. (Jay Drowns/Sporting News Archive)

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Larry Allen

Larry Allen made the NFL's all-rookie team in 1994, then went to the Pro Bowl 11 of the next 12 years, retiring after the 2007 season. (Albert Dickson/Sporting News)

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Jonathan Ogden

Ravens offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden is an 11-time Pro Bowler in his own right and helped the team win one Super Bowl. (Chris Gardner/AP)

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Tim Brown

This will be Tim Brown's third year on the Hall of Fame ballot. (Albert Dickson/Sporting News)

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Cris Carter

Cris Carter caught 65 touchdown passes in a five-year span with the Minnesota Vikings, where he made the biggest mark on a career that saw him score 130 times in all. (Tom Olmscheid/AP)

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Art Modell

Art Modell died in September at the age of 87 from natural causes. Could football's ultimate honor come for the fallen owner in February? (Ricky Carioti/AP)

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Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells had a knack for turning teams around and building them into contenders. He won the Super Bowl twice with the New York Giants. (Rich Pilling /Sporting News Archives)

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Aeneas Williams

Aeneas Williams was one of football's top ballhawks in his career, totaling 55 interceptions. That's tied for 19th all time. (Albert Dickson/Sporting News)

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Charles Haley

Charles Haley is a member of the 100 sacks club, won five Super Bowl titles and went to the Pro Bowl five times. Not bad for a fourth-round pick. (Ron Heflin/AP)

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Kevin Greene

Kevin Greene is third all-time on the NFL sacks list, behind only Bruce Smith and the late, great Reggie White. (Hans Deryk/AP)

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Will Shields

Will Shields spent all 14 seasons of his career with the Chiefs, where he was a Pro Bowler in his final 12 seasons. He also was an eight-time All-Pro pick. (Albert Dickson/Sporting News)

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Andre Reed

Andre Reed was a big reason why the Bills made it to four straight Super Bowls during the Jim Kelly era. (Mark Duncan/AP)

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Eddie Debartolo

When Eddie Debartolo Jr. owned the 49ers, his teams won five Super Bowls. (AP Photo)

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Curley Culp

Kansas City's Curley Culp was one of two senior nominees selected this season. (AP Photo)

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Dave Robinson

Dave Robinson helped the Packers win three NFL titles, with the last two being the first two Super Bowls in history. The linebacker made the NFL's all-decade team for the 1960s. (AP Photo)